Rug displaying device adapted to be readily assembled and disassembled



July 11. 1967 w. SCHNEIDER 3,330,418

RUG DISPLAYING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE READILY ASSEMBLED AND DISASSEMBLED Filed Oct. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WM KW M WW W W INVENTOR y 11. 1967 w. SCHNEIDER 3,330,413

RUG DISPLAYING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE READILY ASSEMBLED AND DISASSEMBLED Filed Oct. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/Q-i w mm M /ww My,

INVENIOR,

United States Patent 3,330,418 RUG DISPLAYING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE READILY ASSEMBLED AND DISASSEMBLED Willy Schneider, Vorst, Post Schroenke, Westphalia, Germany; Ingeborg Schneider, heir of said Willy Schneider, deceased Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,213 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 13, 1965, Sch 37,548 10 Claims. (Cl. 211-47) This invention relates to rug-displaying devices.

It is a general object of this invention to provide rugdisplaying devices having improved stands.

This invention is more particularly concerned with rug-displaying devices including vertical columns and horizontal beams pivotally supporting a plurality of rugsupports which may be turned in the fashion of the leaves of a book, thus sequentially exposing to view the individual rugs supported by these rug-supports.

It is generally desired to provide such rug-displaying devices with a relatively large number of rug-supports in order to be able to exhibit, or display, a relatively large number of rugs. The larger the number of rugsupports included in such a device, the bulkier the stand which is required for it and which includes vertical columns and horizontal beams. It was a widely adopted practice to fabricate such stands prior to shipment thereof, but as the bulk of the stands increased it became necessary to assemble such stands in the field, i.e. at the location where the particular rug-display device is intended to be used. It is current practice to pre-fabricate the parts of which the stand of a bulky rug-displaying device is made, and to assemble these parts by welding at the location of the intended use of the device. This practice results in serious difliculties on account of irregularities of the surface of floors at different locations. If the axes about which the rug-supports of such a device are pivoted are not vertical, the rug-supports cannot be pivoted properly, as intended, but have a tendency to am.

It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide improved rug-displaying devices of the above description made-up of component parts which can be shipped separately and readily assembled at any location, and which are adapted to allow adjustments required to compensate for irregularities of floors and to properly hang the individual rug-supports.

Further objects of the invention and advantages thereof will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to, and forming part of, this specification.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a rug-displaying device embodying this invention, some of the constituent parts of the structure having been omitted in FIG. 1 and some of them broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of another rug-displaying device embodying this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top-plan view of the structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section along 4-4 of FIG. 3 and is drawn on a larger scale than FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section along 5-5 of FIG. 3 and is drawn on a larger scale than FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top-plan view of a detail of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top-plan view of a detail of the structure of FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of a detail of the structure of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 6 thereof, reference numeral 1 has been applied to generally indicate a floor-engaging frame structure, or base structure, resting on the floor of a show room, and directly or indirectly supporting all other parts of the displaying device. Frame structure 1 is made up of two parallel lengths of tubing 1 of which but one such length is shown in FIG. 1. Frame structure 1 further comprises a rail 1 T-shaped in cross-section and arranged at right angles to tubing 1*. Rail 1 and tubing 1 are secured to each other to form a structural unit. The structure further comprises a pair of horizontal beams 3 and 4, preferably formed by channel irons. Beams 3, 4 are supported adjacent the ends thereof by a pair of vertical columns 2 of which but one has been shown in FIG. 1. Columns 2 are supported adjacent the lower end thereof by frame structure 1 by means of horizontal pivots 2 thus making it possible to pivot columns 2 relative to frame structure 1 and to position columns 2 vertically, even though the plane generally defined by frame structure 1 is not a perfectly horizontal plane. Each column 2 has a substantially horizontal extension 2 formed by an inverted channel iron extending parallel to tubing 1 radially outwardly from each column 2. The two flanges of extensions 2 overlap the length of tubing 1 arranged below extensions 2 and physically engage the latter. Reference character 2 has been applied to indicate the end of extensions 2 remote from columns 2. Each extension 2 is provided at its end 2 with an adjustable abutment 2 abutting against frame structure 1, or tubing 1 respectively, and determining the spacing between extensions 2 and frame structure 1, or tubing 1*, respectively. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 abutments 2 are formed by screws projecting transversely through the web portion of extensions 2 If abutment screws 2 are turned in one direction, columns 2 pivot clockwise about horizontal pivots 2 and if abutment screws 2 are turned in the opposite direction, columns 2 pivot counterclockwise about pivots 2 Strut 2e interconnects a point of extensions 2 adjacent end 2 with a point of columns 2 situated at a higher level than extensions 2 Thus parts 2, 2 2 constitute a subassembly unit having a considerable degree of dimensional stability. Columns 2 may be circular in cross-section, or square, or rectangular in cross-section, as desired.

Horizontal beams 3, 4 have flanges provided with semicircular cut-outs 3 4 for the passage of columns 2. Reference numeral 3 has been applied to indicate screws projecting through the web portions of beam 3 into columns 2 and securing the former to the latter, and reference numeral 4 has been applied to indicate screws securing in like fashion beam 4 to columns 2.

Upper beam 3 supports a parallel channel shaped beam 3. Beams 3 and 3 are arranged back to back, i.e. the vertical web portions thereof are arranged in abutting relation. The two horizontal portions of beam 3 are provided with straight lines of circular registering perforations 3 These perforations 3 are intended to receive inserts such as pins, or screws, for pivotally securing a plurality of rug-supports to the stand 1, 2, 3, 4. FIG. 1 shows but a single such rug-support including the horizontal rug-supporting bar 5. The end of bar 5 adjacent beams 3, 3 is provided with an aperture for receiving a pin or screw 3 project-ing through a pair of registering perforations 3 in the horizontal flange portions of beam 3. The rug-support shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a reinforcing bar or strut 5 5 being bent at 5 and secured at 5 to horizontal rug-supported bar 5. The end of reinforcing bar 5*, 5 adjacent beam 4 is pivotally supported by beam 4. To this end channel-shaped beam 4 supports another channel-shaped beam 4. Beams 4 and 4 are arranged back to back, i.e. the web portion 4 of beam 4 is arranged in abutting relation to the web portion of beam 4. The two flange portions of beam 4 are provided with straight lines of circular registering perforations 4 intended to receive inserts such as screws, or pins. The end of reinforcing bar 5 adja cent beams 4, 4 projects into a space bounded by the flange port-ions of beam 4 and is provided with a circular aperture receiving a pin or screw 4 projecting transversely through a pair of registering perforations 4 in the horizontal flanges of beam 4. The spacing of the holes or perforations in beams 3 and 4 is equidistant. Therefore each pair of perforations 4 in the flanges of beam 4 may be aligned, or arranged in registry, with one pair of holes or perforations 3 in the flanges of beam 3.

As is apparent from FIG. 1 point 5 of strut 5, 5 is the highest point thereof. The rear portion 5 of strut or reinforcing bar 5, 5 and the front portion of strut or reinforcing bar 5, 5 are sloping downwardly. The front portion 5 of strut or reinforcing bar 5, 5 forms a handle 5 for manually pivoting parts 5, 5, 5 about pins 3, 4, The front portion 5 of strut or reinforcing bar 5, 5 is further provided with a sign-receiving frame 5 arranged adjacent to handle 5. Frame S is intended to receive a card with information thereon relative to the make, size, price, etc. of the particular rug supported by the particular rug-support 5, 5, 5.

While FIG. 1 shows but one single rug-support 5, 5, 5 supported by stand 1, 2, 3, 4, it will be apparent that stand 1, 2, 3, 4 is intended, and adapted, to support in like fashion a plurality of identical rug-supports. This has been shown in FIG. 3 where a stand similar to that shown in FIG. 1 is provided with five pivotable rugsupports.

In FIG. 1 a portion of U-shaped beam 4 is broken away to expose to view a supporting flange 4 for the latter. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 the vertical web portion 4 of beam 4 is provided with two supporting flanges 4 each having an oblong hole or aperture 4 and projecting at right angles from web portion 4 of beam 4. Channel-shaped beam 4 has two flange portions of which the lower flange portion 4 is wider than the upper flange portion andrests upon the supporting flanges 4 projecting from web 4 of beam 4.

Beam 4 can be adjusted in a direction longitudinally thereof, i.e. moved to the left, or right, as indicated by the pair of arrows 4 Thus each pair of perforations or holes 4' in beam 4 can be brought into alignment, or registry, with one pair of perforations or holes 3 in beam 3. When beam 4 is properly aligned it may be secured in its proper position by screws projecting through holes in the wide flange 4 of beam 4 and through the oblong holes 4 in supporting flanges 4 The proper alignment of beam 4 can readily be achieved since it is securely supported by supporting flanges 4 during the alignment process thereof.

Reference numeral 4 has been applied to indicate a plurality of cam means on the inner surface of the relatively wide flange 4 of channel-shaped beam 4. Each cam means 4 is arranged adjacent of the circular perforations in flange 4 The cam means 4 may be formed by the head of a round head screw, or by the round head of a rivet. If desired they can be formed by a similar structure having an apex portion and slope portions at opposite sides of said apex portion. When any of the rug-supports 5, 5, 5 is pivoted about its vertical pivots 3, 4 the horizontal left end (FIG. 1) of bar 5, 5 must be moved over the cam surface 4 immediately adjacent to it. This requires a little concious effort, i.e. the respective rug-support 5, 5, 5 is not likely to be pivoted involuntarily from'one to the other of its limit positions.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that beams 3 and 3 may be considered as one composite beam, or as two beams, as desired. The same applies as to beams 4 and 4.

The structure of FIG. 1 permits the display of rugs in two different ways. A pair of rugs may be arranged back to back and clamped with their upper edges to bar 5, or suspended with their upper edges from bar 5. as an alternative, rugs may be folded over bar 5 so that one half of the particular rug is situated at opposite sides of each particular bar 5.

The structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is, in part, identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 and described in connection therewith .Therefore FIGS. 2 and 3 require a detailed description only inasmuch as the structure shown therein differs from that shown in FIGSxl and 6. The same reference characters have been applied in FIGS 1 and 6 and in FIGS. 2 and 3 to designate like parts, however, a prime has been added to most of the reference characters appearing in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, reference character 1 has been applied to indicate a frame structure intended to rest on the floor of a show room, or rug exhibit. Frame structure 1 is made up of a U-shaped tubing section 1 which is circular in cross-section and a straight rail section rail section 1 which is T-shaped in cross-section. Columns 2' are pivotally supported at 2 on tubing section 1 and provided with radial extensions 2. The radially outer ends of extensions 2 are provided with abutment screws 2 engaging tubing section 1 to control the angular relation between each column 2 and frame structure 1'. Columns 2 support horizontal channel-shaped beams 3, 4. Screw-threaded rods 3*" secure beam 3 to columns 2' and screw-threaded rods 4 secure beam 4 to column 2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Beams 3, 4 are provided with semicircular cutouts 3, 4 having the same diameter as columns 2 and forming semicircular edges abutting against the cylindricallateral wall of colums 2'. Beam 3 supports a pair of beams 3 abutting with the vertical web portions thereof against the vertical web portion of beam 3. Beam 4 supports a channelshaped beam 4 abutting with its vertical web portion against the vertical web portion of beam 4' (FIG. 4). The horizontal flanges of beams 3 and 4 are provided with straight lines of equidistant perforations 3 and 4 respectively. Lower beam 4 has flange portions of different width, the lower flange portion 4 being wider than the upper flange portion. Lower beam 4 is provided with means allowing its adjustment in a direction longitudinally thereof to achieve registry between its lines of perforation 4 in its two flange portions and the lines of perforations 23 in the flange portions of the two upper channel-shaped beams 3. To this end beam 4 is provided at the upper relatively narrow flange portion thereof with a worm, or screw-threaded rod 4. The ends of worm or screw-threaded rod 4 are supported at 4 in such a way as to preclude any rotary motion about the longitudinal axis thereof. This may be achieved by welding the ends of worm 4 to the upper flange portion of beam 4. The vertical web portion of beam 4 is provided with two narrowly spaced projections 4 forming abutments for a screw nut 4 riding on worm 4 and arranged between projections 4 Screw nut 4 may be turned in either direction by means of a monkey wrench, and such turning results in a carefully controlled adjustment of beam 4 in a direction longitudinally thereof. The wider flange portion 4 of beam 4 rests upon a supporting flange 4 projecting at right angles from the web portion 4 of beam 4' (FIG. 4) and is provided with spherical projections or cam members 4 having the same function as the projections or cam members 4 shown in FIG. 1 and described in connection therewith.

The structure of FIGS. 2 and 3 show rug-supports which differ in some respect from the rug-supports of- FIG. 1. The rug supports of FIGS. 2 and 3 include horizontal rug-supporting bars 5 and reinforcement bars 5 5 secured at 5 to bars 5. The right end of sloping bar portion 5 is provided with a handle 5 and a frame 5 The left end of sloping bar portion 5 enters the space bounded by the flange portions of beam 4 and is provided with a hole or aperture. Screw-threaded bolts 4 project through the holes 4 in the flanges of beam 4 and through the holes in bar portions 5 and thus pivotally support the latter on beam 4'. The additional rugsupporting bar 5 extends parallel to bar 5 and is provided with a slanting strut or reinforcing bar 5 The ends of bars 5, S and 5 adjacent beam 3' are provided with holes or apertures, and screw-threaded bolts or rods 3 project through registering holes in bars 5', 5 and 5 and holes 3 in the horizontal flanges of both beams 3 As shown in FIG. the ends of rods 5 and S adjacent the two channel beams 3 project into the spaces bounded by the horizontal flanges of beams 3 and rod 5 rests on the upper horizontal flange of the lower beam 3 The ends of rods or bars 5 and 5 remote from beams 3 and 3 are maintained in spaced relation by a spacer 5 The latter includes a first semi-cylindrical member 5 cooperatively engaging the lower surface of upper rod or bar 5 a second semi-cylindrical member cooperatively engaging the upper surface of lower rod or bar 5 and a vertical tie-rod 5 integrating parts 5 and 5 into a structural unit and having a projection entering into a bore or aperture in rod or bar 5.

I found it convenient to fabricate the rug-support 5', 5 5, 5 5 of tubing having an OD. slightly in excess of 1". The spacing of the perforations 3 4 in beams 3, 4 is in the order of 2 /2" measured between centers. Beams 3, 4 support a total of about rugsupport units 5', 5 5, 5 S and have a length in the order of 8-9 ft.

The structure of FIGS. 2 and 3 makes it possible to accommodate a particularly large number of rugs in a relatively limited space. It will be apparent that parts 5' and 5 can be pivoted independently out of the common vertical plane in which they are normally arranged. If so pivoted parts 5 and S are arranged in dilferent vertical intersecting planes which enclose an acute angle with each other. In that particular position of parts 5' and 5 one rug may be placed on each of parts 5' and 5 in such a fashion that one half of each rug hangs down from each side of parts 5 and 5 the center line of each rug being coextensive and in engagement with one of parts 5 and 5 Thereupon parts 5 and 5 are moved back to the position thereof in which both parts are situated in a common vertical plane. In that position the inner halves of both rugs will rest against each other and, therefore, not be exposed to view, and the outer halves of both rugs may readily be displayed. Thus it is possible to store 80 folded rugs in the device of FIGS. 2 and 3 if it is provided with forty pairs of rods 5, 5

If desired the length of the horizontal beams may be increased and the number of vertical columns may be increased to increase the storage capacity of the device.

While I have described what are at present considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for displaying rugs comprising, in combination:

(a) a plurality of rug-supports each including a horizontal rug-supporting bar;

(-b) a pair of substantially horizontally extending beams pivotally supporting said plurality of rug-supports;

(c) a floor-engaging frame structure;

(d) a pair of substantially vertical columns supporting said pair of beams, each of said pair of columns being supported adjacent the lower end thereof by said frame structure by means of a horizontal pivot, and each of said pair of columns having a substantially horizontal extension integral therewith and projecting away from the lower end thereof; and

(e) a pair of adjustable abutments each supported by the end of said extension of one of said pair of columns remote from said one of said pair of columns, each of said pair of abutments abutting against said frame structure and determining the spacing of said end of said extension of one of said pair of columns from said frame structure.

2. A device as specified in claim 1 wherein each of said pair of beams has horizontal flange means provided with straight lines of circular perforations with vertical pivot inserts therein pivotally supporting said plurality of rugsupports, and wherein one of said pair of beams is provided with means for adjusting said one of said pair of beams in a direction longitudinally thereof to establish substantially complete registration of said lines of perforations in each of said pair of beams.

3. A device as specified in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of rug-supports includes a pair of horizontal rugsupporting bars pivotally supported at one end thereof by one of said pair of beams and spaced at the other end thereof by spacer means arranged between said pair of rug-supporting bars.

4. A device as specified in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of rug-supports includes a pair of horizontal rugsupporting bars circular in cross-section pivotally supported at one end thereof by one of said pair of beams and spaced by spacer means at the other end thereof, said spacer means including a first semi-cylindrical member cooperatively engaging the lower surface of the upper of said pair of rug-supporting bars, a second semi-cylindrical member cooperatively engaging the upper surface of the lower of said pair of rug-supporting bars and a vertical tie-rod integrating said first member and said second member into a structural unit and having a projection extending through a bore provided in the lower of said pair of rug-supporting bars.

5. A device as specified in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of rug-supports includes, in addition to said horizontal rug-supporting bar, a reinforcing bar secured at one point thereof to said rug-supporting bar and having a downward sloping rear portion pivot-ally supported at the end thereof by the lower of said pair of beams, said reinforcing bar further having a downward sloping front portion forming a handle at the end thereof and being provided with a sign-receiving frame adjacent said handle.

6. A device for displaying rugs comprising, in combination:

(a) a plurality of rug-supports each including a horizontal rug-supporting bar;

(b) a first pair of substantially horizontal spaced beams each having horizontal flange means provided with a straight line of circular perforations estalishing fulcra pivotally supporting said plurality of rug-supports;

(C) a second pair of substantially horizontal beams each having a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion, said substantially vertical portion of each of said second pair of beams supporting one of said first pair of beams;

(d) a floor-engaging frame structure;

(e) a pair of substantially vertical columns supporting said second pair of beams, each of said pair of columns being supported adjacent the lower end thereof by said frame structure by means of a horizontal pivot, and each of said pair of columns having a substantially horizontal extension integral therewith and projecting away from the lower end thereof; and

(f) a pair of adjustable abutments each supported by the ends of said extension of one of said pair of columns remote from said one of said pair of columns, each of said pair of abutments abutting against said frame structure and determining the spacing of said end of said extension of one of said pair of columns from said frame structure.

7. A device as specified in claim 6 wherein one of said second pair of beams is provided with a substantially horizontal projection slidably supporting one of said first pair of beams and having an oblong aperture receiving a screw-threaded shank projecting transversely through one perforation of said straight line of circular perforations in said flange means in one of said first pair of beams.

8. A device as specified in claim 6 wherein one of said first pair of beams is provided with a drive for adjusting said one of said first pair of beams in a direction substantially longitudinally thereof.

9. A device as specified in claim 6 wherein one of said first pair of beams is provided with a drive for adjusting said one of said first pair of beams in a direction substantially longitudinally thereof, and wherein said drive includes a screw-threaded rod extending in a direction longitudinally of said one of said first pair of beams and non-rotatably supported by said one of said first pair of beams, a nut mounted on said rod, and a pair of abutments integral with one of said second pair of beams, each arranged to one side of said nut and each limiting the travel of said nut in a direction longitudinally of said screw-threaded rod.

10. A device as specified in claim 6 wherein one of said first pair of beams is formed by a channel having a relatively narrow web portion and a relatively wide web portion and wherein said relatively wide web portion is provided with a plurality of aligned cam surfaces for engaging said plurality of rug-supports, each of said plurality of cam surfaces having an apex portion and slope portions at opposite sides of said apex portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 384,194 6/1888 Danner 21196 1,061,001 5/1913 Nelson 21147 1,088,128 2/1914 Cleary et al 211-47 1,380,855 6/1921 Wallerstein 211168 2,061,156 11/1936 Humphrey 21196 2,082,910 6/1937 Ross 2l1-181 2,194,191 3/1940 Wolf 211-96 2,764,297 9/ 1956 Watts n 21196 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

25 A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING RUGS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A PLURALITY OF RUG-SUPPORTS EACH INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL RUG-SUPPORTING BAR; (B) A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BEAMS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID PLURALITY OF RUG-SUPPORTS; (C) A FLOOR-ENGAGING FRAME STRUCTURE; (D) A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL COLUMNS SUPPORTING SAID PAIR OF BEAMS, EACH OF SAID PAIR OF COLUMNS BEING SUPPORTED ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF BY SAID FRAME STRUCTURE BY MEANS OF A HORIZONTAL PIVOT, AND EACH OF SAID PAIR OF COLUMNS HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL EXTENSION INTEGRAL THEREWITH AND PROJECTING AWAY FROM THE LOWER END THEREOF; AND 